A Welsh mountain bike rider who became a YouTube sensation before a devastating fall left him paralysed is miraculously back in the saddle.

Martyn Ashton , from Margam in Neath Port Talbot , was a professional mountain biker with 20 years experience when a spinal cord injury left him without movement from the waist down in 2013.

Up to that point millions of people had viewed him performing acrobatic stunts in a number of viral online videos.

Now Martyn’s most recent film, and his most poignant, shows him successfully getting back on a specially-modified bike and navigating a steep downhill ride.

Martyn Ashton leaves his wheelchair behind as he gets back on a bike

More than three years earlier, in October 2012, Martyn became an internet sensation with a video called Road Bike Party, where he performed a series of tricks on an unmodified bike in various locations around the UK. The video was viewed 10 million times by 2014.

But while working on a sequel in 2013, he unsuccessfully attempted a stunt during a trials demo at the Moto GP event at Silverstone.

Martyn’s bike fell from a three-metre platform and he broke his back.

'All you can do is deal with it'

“I landed and I felt the shock go through my body and I immediately knew it was really serious,” he said.

“I took a moment to speak to my son so that he knew I was OK and then kept telling myself that everything would be OK.

“But when I had the MRI scan I realised life as I previously knew it had changed. I hadn’t died though. So all you can do is deal with it.”

Martyn Ashton from Margam gets back on his bike after a serious injury

On December 19, Martyn set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his on-going physiotherapy, house modifications and an adapted gym plus cycle equipment.

In fact he raised a staggering £54,000 in just over two weeks – thanks to donations from over 3,000 people.

Another online video entitled Martyn Back on Track was released in September 2015, showing the Margam rider completing the downhill descent despite having no feeling in his legs.

'I remain very pro-active'

“I’m a very positive person and still very much enjoy life to the full,” he added.

“I remain very pro-active with my personal fitness and want to be able to maintain that healthy lifestyle into the coming years.

“I always knew it wouldn’t take me long to get back on my bike. It was just interesting to see how that would actually happen.

“I actually set up my GoFundMe page in response to a post I placed on my Facebook page, where I asked if anyone would be interested in buying my C59 Colnago road bike, the sale of which could help towards funding physiotherapy, house modifications and adapted gym equipment.

Watch Martyn Ashton in action before his accident

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“When friends heard I was trying to sell it to raise funds they really wanted me to keep the bike.

“However, because I still needed money to be able to plan my rehab and physiotherapy in 2016 – the general consensus was I should set this page up instead.

'Martyn is a complete inspiration'

“So here it is and I am overwhelmed by all the support I have already received which has way exceeded any expectations.”